Risperdal Lawsuit Attorney

Risperdal is an antipsychotic drug that has been inappropriately marketed to children. Made by Johnson & Johnson, the drug is meant to control symptoms of schizophrenia and episodes related to bipolar disorder. But Johnson & Johnson promoted it for use on children with a variety of conditions such as ADHD—even without clearance from the FDA. As a result some children have been seriously harmed, especially young boys.

It’s now known that taking Risperdal can cause some boys to develop enlarged breasts. The drug can cause the growth of breasts in boys both before and during puberty, a condition known as gynecomastia. Gynecomastia can derail the life of a young boy, not only carrying a social stigma but also causing physical pain and psychological harm. In many cases the condition requires surgery.

If you or someone you love has been harmed by taking Risperdal, you are not alone. The attorneys of John Foy & Associates are now investigating possible lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson for their reckless behavior. You could have a case to receive a financial recovery that would pay for your medical bills, treatment, therapy and other expenses. Let us give you a free consultation to discuss your case. Call 404-400-4000 and get your free consultation today.

How can Risperdal cause boys to develop breasts?

Male breast growth or gynecomastia is a well known disorder that’s typically caused by an imbalance in hormones. It involves a swelling of the glands inside the breast. In a small percentage of boys, gynecomastia can happen naturally, but it appears that boys taking Risperdal are at much higher risk—and that Risperdal itself is what causes it.

Risperdal does this by causing the body to develop higher levels of prolactin. Prolactin is a hormone that stimulates breast growth in women. Men normally have very low levels of this hormone, and if the amount of prolactin is too high a male can develop visible breasts.

The link between Risperdal and breast growth is more than just conjecture. A 2006 study, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, confirmed that adolescents taking Risperdal had elevated prolactin levels. It showed that the dose of Risperdal (or risperidone, its generic name) used to treat psychotic symptoms is enough to trigger this condition. And in the study, three out of 10 adolescent patients developed gynecomastia.

That rate is astonishingly high, and it supports what we have seen in the courts. Out of the hundreds of lawsuits filed over Risperdal, it appears that at least 130 involve boys who suffered from gynecomastia.

What effects does gynecomastia have on boys?

The affects of gynecomastia are more than cosmetic. The condition can be painful and often leads to serious harm. Some of the effects boys may have to live with include:

Many boys who develop gynecomastia report pain in the breasts or around the nipples. This pain can be intermittent or ongoing.

Some boys report discharge from the nipples.

Delayed puberty. Doctors who have studied Risperdal’s link to gynecomastia warn that it’s not clear how prolactin levels or breast growth affect puberty. They have raised the question of whether puberty could be delayed by the hormone, and whether boys won’t grow as much as they otherwise would.

The effects of gynecomastia aren’t just physical. One of the most serious effects is on a boy’s emotional development and mental health. Growing breasts is not something boys are proud of, and they often face teasing or even bullying at school. Some boys may try to hide their breasts, or they may avoid school and social encounters altogether. Gynecomastia can cost an adolescent his friends, his academic career, and ultimately a lot of his happiness.

This stress and pain translates directly to psychological trauma. Boys with gynecomastia score lower on quality of life assessments, especially for mental health, social functioning and self esteem. They can become seriously depressed. During the crucial adolescent years, this kind of psychological damage can have a lasting impact.

Do adolescents with gynecomastia need treatment?

Most boys with gynecomastia will need some kind of treatment. If given time, some cases of gynecomastia may pass on their own, but many will not—or they will take years to go away. Psychologists urge that treatment should come as early as possible, to minimize psychological distress. The longer the condition goes on, the more seriously it affects a boy’s self esteem and emotional health. But the treatment for gynecomastia is not minor—it’s breast reduction surgery. By surgically removing tissue from the breasts, boys can return to a normal sized chest.

Adolescents will also typically need therapy to deal with the trauma of developing gynecomastia.

Is Johnson & Johnson liable for what Risperdal has done?

Yes. Johnson & Johnson has consistently acted in an unethical, callous way with regard to the wellbeing of Risperdal patients. The company marketed Risperdal to children’s mental health clinics as early as 1999, despite not getting approval for any pediatric use until 2006. They covered up the data that Risperdal raises prolactin levels, and even paid kickbacks to doctors who agreed to prescribe it. The company knew the dangers to child patients, and did it anyway.

Johnson & Johnson has already been found criminally liable for their actions. In 2013 they agreed to pay a $2.2 billion settlement for their illegal and inappropriate marketing campaign. But this doesn’t help the individual patients who live with the after effects of Risperdal every day of their lives.

If you or your son or loved one developed gynecomastia while using Risperdal, don’t wait. You are entitled to make a full financial recovery that can help you put your life back together. This can help you pay for therapy, surgery, or past medical bills. But there is a statute of limitations in every state. If you wait too long, you will miss your chance.

The attorneys of John Foy & Associates can help you. We’re one of the most experienced medical injury law firms in the country. We offer a FREE consultation and we charge you nothing unless we get you a financial recovery. Call 404-400-4000 and get your free consultation today.

Risperdal Lawsuit News & Information

July 25, 2017 - Risperdal Lawsuits Continue to Grow:

Risperdal, an anti-psychotic medication, is said to cause the growth of female breast tissue in young boys. This breast tissue must be then surgically removed. Despite this, Johnson & Johnson neglected to inform patients of or downplayed this side effect. According to the Legal Intelligencer, lawsuits filed in Philadelphia court against the manufacturer of Risperdal have more than doubled over the first half of 2017.

It has become the largest mass tort program in Philadelphia’s court system. Beginning with about 2,000 cases in January, it has since grown in size to more than 5,500 as of June.

Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas says that over 55.8% of its inventory is made up of Risperdal lawsuits. 5,548 Risperdal cases were pending as of early June.

Thomas R. Kline, an attorney from Kline & Specter, Sheller P.C. and Arnold and Itken, is handling about three-quarters of the cases in Philadelphia. He expects the number of cases to continue to grow, though it will be slower than the first half of the year.

A spokeswoman for Janssen, the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary that manufacturers Risperdal, issued a statement that said the company would “continue to defend this litigation and try cases where appropriate.”

The majority of the filings come from outside Pennsylvania. Plaintiffs hail from all over the country, and at one point, made up about 95% of the most recent filings.

Kline said that the litigation would take place over eight to ten trails scheduled for the remaining half of 2017 and the first half of 2018.

If you have been injured as a result of taking the prescription drug Risperdal, you may be entitled to compensation. Let the attorneys at the law offices of John Foy & Associates fight for you. We can get you the compensation you deserve. Call us today.

Risperdal is meant to treat mental illnesses like bipolar disorder, but for teens and men, it has another side effect, gynecomastia. This makes their breasts grow like a woman’s and is irreversible without surgery. Many males miss this symptom at first because it can look similar to weight gain, a common side effect with certain psychiatric medications.

Thousands of men wish to sue Johnson & Johnson for not disclosing this side effect sooner. They believe that the company hid the side effect so they could increase sales. The shame and ridicule these men experienced have pushed some of them to leave school and believe they will never live a normal life, especially if they can’t afford expensive breast reduction surgery.

Johnson & Johnson has already had to settle billions of dollars of lawsuits related to the use of risperdal. Notably, it was being prescribed to people with dementia when it was only approved for schizophrenia. In 2013, they had to pay out a huge health care fraud penalty because of this. It’s proof that the company is more after profits than protecting the health of users.

At least 13,000 men have joined the latest class-action lawsuit against the company for not revealing gynecomastia as a side effect of risperdal. If you believe taking this drug has enlarged your breasts, you deserve to be a part of this legal action. Call John Foy & Associates for more information.

April 17, 2016 - Man Claims Risperdal made him Lactate in New Suit:

A 22-year-old man joins his case to those of others alleging that the drug, Risperdal, made by Johnson & Johnson caused him male breast growth and even lactation as a side effect of taking it.

This latest side-effects lawsuit, filed by Shaquil Byrd, against the makers of Risperdal lawsuit alleges that after being prescribed the drug in 2001 and through 2008, he suffered not only Risperdal-related breast growth, but a related condition called hyperprolactinemia, which involves male lactation. The lawsuit also alleges that Byrd’s condition that was caused by taking Risperdal required multiple surgeries in order to correct the painful and embarrassing condition.

Lawsuits such as this against the makers of Johnson & Johnson, the makers of Risperdal are all a part of a multijurisdictional lawsuit that is similar. The patients prescribed Risperdal allege a number of health issues such as male breast growth and the risk of gynecomastia and other complications.

Byrd’s joins others in a multidistrict litigation (MDL) against Johnson & Johnson, makers of Risperdal. Unlike class action lawsuits, MDL’s are individuals who have each filed their own lawsuit and are similar to others within the MDL litigation.

If you or someone you love has been harmed after having been prescribed the drug, Risperdal, you may be like many others who have suffered the same side effects from this drug.

At the law offices of John Foy & Associates, we are currently investigating possible lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson for their reckless behavior involving this drug.

You or someone you care about could have a case and be eligible to receive a financial recovery. Such a monetary recovery could assist you in paying for your medical bills, treatment, therapy and other expenses after using Risperdal. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

April 7, 2016 - Kentucky Wins Settlement in Risperdal Case:

Risperdal is an antipsychotic medication used in the treatment of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. But it has been used for a lot of off-label uses. One of the major side effects of using the drug is that it causes men to develop gynecomastia or male breast growth. The problem is more widespread than thought because there has been a push to market this drug for off-label purposes that put people at risk.

A $15.5 million settlement has been reached between the State of Kentucky and the maker of the drug for some of the damages. The reason for the damages was not because of damage young people but on elderly people. The Kentucky attorney general claims that Risperdal was marketed off-label to elderly patients despite an increased risk of death in that population.

They had evidence that an “elder sales force” has been created to market the product. It’s illegal for drug companies to actively market a drug beyond the scope laid down by the FDA. Only doctors can prescribe a medicine for off-label use. They also said that Janssen tried to tell customers that Risperdal had less severe side effects than other antipsychotics that later studies showed were untrue.

If you or a loved one have taken Risperdal and have experienced gynecomastia, or believe that the drug may have contributed to the death of an elderly loved one, call us immediately. There is a growing number of Risperdal lawsuits being filed all across the nation. Don’t miss your chance for compensation. Call our offices today.

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